2026 Winter Olympics: Lindsey Vonn’s Comeback Cut Short
Lindsey Vonn’s return to the women’s downhill final didn’t go as she had hoped. She anticipated surviving on her own for about 90 seconds but, shockingly, it lasted just 13.
During her run, Vonn, 41, got her right arm caught in a gate, leading to a severe crash early Sunday morning. This incident marked a distressing turn in her impressive Olympic comeback.
There are many theories about what caused the mishap—whether it was linked to her previous ACL injury or something more complicated. Still, based on Vonn’s skill level and the race’s demands, the explanation seemed rather straightforward.
Martina Seiler, a family friend and daughter of Vonn’s late childhood coach, described the crash as “an accident that could have happened to anyone.” She watched the event unfold in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, noting that Vonn’s arm was caught in the gate and asserting, “Her crash had nothing to do with a torn ACL.” She recalled how her father would say it was simply bad luck.
Following her crash, Vonn was immediately placed on a stretcher and airlifted to a nearby hospital, while the race continued about 20 minutes later.
In another part of the news, Bong, who sustained a serious leg fracture, was also hospitalized in Treviso for treatment.
Saylor expressed her devastation over Vonn’s incident, emphasizing how rapidly it unfolded.
Retiring from competition due to injury in 2019 had been a tough decision for Vonn, but once again putting herself at risk for Olympic glory felt like an entirely different challenge. Seiler emphasized that Vonn truly “redefined effort.”
“She worked hard. She earned her spot. She was a true contender despite her latest injury,” Seiler remarked, believing that even with the setback, Vonn was still a medal contender and exemplified an extraordinary level of commitment.
2026 Winter Olympics
Saylor told her daughters that not every story concludes happily, but Vonn should hold no regrets regarding her achievements this year. “Over time, she will recover and write the rest of the story,” she added, referencing her young daughters who compete in skiing.
On a brighter note, American racer Breezy Johnson set an impressive pace, becoming the sixth to ski the course and clinching gold with a time of 1:36.10. This victory marked Team USA’s first Olympic gold in Milan-Cortina, making Johnson the second American woman to win a gold medal in women’s downhill—Vonn had secured her first gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games. Besides her gold, Vonn had also won two bronzes: one in super-G in 2010 and another in downhill at Pyeongchang in 2018.
